Moving an Outdoor Ceremony Indoors: Making the Best of Your Backup Plan

Moving an Outdoor Ceremony Indoors: Making the Best of Your Backup Plan

If you dream of a wedding held in the great outdoors, it’s always advisable to have an indoor backup plan in case of rain or other inclement weather. As probably any wedding couple would tell you, it’s better to have a “Plan B” from the beginning than to worry and wonder until your big day arrives.

Most wedding venues who offer outdoor space for ceremonies or receptions will automatically reserve indoor backup space for you as well, but definitely make sure you have arrangements in place– particularly at unorthodox ceremony or reception locations.

That being said, I have a few tips to follow during the wedding planning process to help you worry a little less about how your experience will turn out, should you have to bring things indoors.

The wedding of Jessica and Derek, shown in these photos, had to be moved indoors due to rain– proof that a gorgeous day is still possible in the event of bad weather!

Choose your venue with care, taking mental note of the indoor photography potential as well as the outdoor space you fell in love with. Are there pretty areas inside, such as photogenic fountains, atrium areas which are covered but filled with natural light, or beautiful staircases or furniture groupings with visual interest? In these photo examples, the couple pictured chose the Loews Portofino Bay Hotelat Universal Orlando Resort for the beauty of the venue, both indoors and out.

Working with a great photographer is key in situations like this. One who is familiar with the venue you have chosen, indoors and out, can prove invaluable to “save the day” should you not be able to shoot outside. The photos in this blog were kindly furnished by Jennifer Werneth Photography, with whom we had the pleasure of working on this wedding!

Consider the amount of decor you have arranged. Are you relying heavily on the outdoor scenery for ambiance, such as at the beach or in a garden? If you must move inside, will there be anything to spruce up the space? This is where a few fresh floral arrangements on top of pillars or an arbor with floral sprays could easily be pulled inside to set the stage for your ceremony, if your indoor space lacks detail. The same goes for reception; check to be sure that decor such as linens or centerpieces complement your indoor space as well.

Finally, I would be foolish not to recommend hiring a good wedding day coordinator, so that you can lay out an indoor backup plan ahead of time and not worry a thing about it on the wedding day! The important thing is that, while you may experience momentary disappointment that things didn’t go according to “Plan A”, your “Plan B” and wedding coordinator will be there to ensure that you still have a wonderful, stress-free experience to cherish for a lifetime!